Winter Skin Care
“Why am I so dry during winter?“
Written By Ksenija Bogdanovic
Ceramides are a type of lipid found in the stratum corneum (upmost surface layer of the skin) that help to retain skin moisture and form part of the protective skin barrier that shields against external aggressors. In colder months, the production of these ceramides significantly decrease. This is largely attributed to our skin attempting to adjust to the changes in temperature, leading many of us to experience dryness, itching and irritation and the potential exacerbation of underlying atopic conditions. For this reason, when the temperature drops, our aim is to is to increase the moisture and lipid presence in the skin and compensate for these changes. With that being said, here are some of my top 5 skin saving product recommendations for surviving the winter months:
1. Swap over to a base cream
Transitioning to a Dermaviduals base cream in winter allows us to customise a blend of oils into a moisturiser which will further assist in nourishing the skin. Dermaviduals wheatgerm, avocado, rosehip and jojoba oils are some of our most popular options.
With its high vitamin E composition, wheatgerm oil offers relief and prevention of dry skin and conditions, particularly for our clients who suffer with psoriasis and eczema. Similarly, avocado oil is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, making it a great addition to your base cream. Avocado oil also contains potassium, lecithin, and many other nutrients, all which contribute to deep nourishment of the skin.
Rosehip oil is highly concentrated in omega 3 which can help to heal very dry skin conditions, such as eczema and dermatitis. For oiler skin types, jojoba oil is best suited due to its non-comedogenic properties which mimic the skin’s free-flowing oils and assists in keeping congestion prone skins in balance.
Combining SJM oils into your existing moisturiser
Try adding in a few drops of our SJM oils into your existing Dermaviduals moisturiser. With the mix of avocado, kiwi seed and vitamin E oils, our SJM Rescue oil packs a punch in healing and reducing inflammation associated with atopic skin issues.
Hyualuronic Acid Concentrate
Due to the drop of humidity in winter, our skin needs to work much harder to maintain adequate hydration levels. Hyualuronic acid assists by acting as a moisture magnet, and is capable of holding 1,000 times its weight in water. Hyualuronic acid prevents excessive transepidermal water loss from occurring, which is something that typically goes hand in hand with atopic skin issues. The Dermaviduals Hyualuronic Acid Concentrate can be combined into a base cream, or purchased neat.
Incorporate Lotion N
The Dermaviduals Lotion N tonic assists to strengthen and restore the skin's protective barrier. The key ingredient of the product is linoleic acid, a powerful omega-6 essential fatty acid which makes up the building blocks of healthy cells. While our body cannot naturally synthesise linoleic acid, it plays an important role in skin regeneration and metabolic functions, supporting the prevention of dry and atopic skin conditions, making it a staple during the winter months. Linoleic acid also balances skin oil production by stimulating more free-flowing oil to be produced that maintains a protective barrier. Lotion N is best applied after cleansing the skin, followed by your serum and moisturiser.
Oleogel Plus - all over body care!
Oleogel Plus is a plant-based, 1,001-purpose balm, that can be used on any part of the body for sealing and healing. We recently posed the question to our clients, asking them what their favourite applications of Oleogel Plus were, and we were not short of responses - from nipple cream to post tattoo recovery balm, Oleogel Plus is extensively used and extremely loved! With its water-free, thixotropic formula, this highly concentrated ointments can work its magic in winter to remedy common concerns of cracked lips, wind burns, and healing relief for extremely dry atopic skin conditions.